Paradise Valley

"For three years, Investigator Cassie Dewell has been on a hunt for a serial killer known as The Lizard King. He works as a long haul trucker. His prey are the "lot lizard" prostitutes who frequent truck stops. And she almost caught him...once. Working for the Bakken County, North Dakota sheriff's department, Cassie has set what she believes is the perfect trap and she has lured him and his truck to a depot. Standing by, ready to close the net are half a dozen undercover officers, including Cassie's fiance Ian. But the plan goes horribly wrong, and the blame falls to Cassie. Disgraced, she loses her job and investigation into her role is put into motion. At the same time, Kyle Westergaard, a troubled kid whom Cassie has taken under her wing, has disappeared, telling everyone he is going on a long-planned adventure. Kyle's grandmother begs Cassie to find him and with nothing else to do, she agrees--all the while planning a new trap for The Lizard King. But Cassie is now a lone wolf. And in the same way that two streams converge into a river, Kyle's disappearance may have a more sinister meaning than anyone realizes. With no allies, no support, and only her own wits to rely on, Cassie must take down a killer who is as ruthless as he is cunning. But can she do it alone, without losing her own humanity or her own life?"-- Provided by publisher.

The violence was pretty intense at times so I can't give it a 5/5 the rest of the story deserves.

Hunting a serial killer known as the Lizard King, has cost Cassie Dewell professionally.

When her son's friend Kyle goes missing and the possibility that he has been kidnapped by the serial killer her bosses think is dead, Cassie sets off to find Kyle and hopefully capture the Lizard King.

C.J. just seems to get better and better like aged whiskey. This is his best yet with the slightly overweight and much widowed Cassie a refreshing addition to his cast of imperfect hero figures. Other than a dramatic explosion and a very satisfying climax, nothing over dramatic to wear the reader out before it's time. In other words, excellent pacing to the story.
Just a thought: How would we like to see a team up between Cassie and Joe Pickett?

Cassie Dewell had never given up her search for the Lizard King and knows he is still out there somewhere kidnapping women from truck stops. With new information that the Lizard King (Ronald Pergram) is active again. Cassie convinces her boss to set up a sting operation that goes horribly wrong leaving several local police and her fiance dead. Cassie is made the scapegoat and forced to resign the force. Kyle Westergaard a friend of Cassie's son and an other boy have disappeared, Kyle's grandmother asks Cassie to help find them as a private investigator because no one on the police force has taken her seriously or the time to fill out a missing person(s) report. While investigating the boy's disappearance she finds out that a woman also went missing the same day in Town. This leads Cassie to the conclusion that Ronald Pergram the Lizard King is still alive and did not die in the explosion as previous thought. With help from Bull Mitchell and Sheriff Bryan Pederson and trusted deputies Cassie tracks the Lizard King to his remote cabin and come face-to-face with the man that has haunted her for so long.